A glass cabinet is the end-game for most collectors: dust protection, visibility from multiple angles and a piece of furniture that says these models matter. But cabinets vary wildly in how well they actually display miniatures — and the difference between a “toys on a shelf” cabinet and a showcase comes down to five buying decisions.
1. Shelf depth: the spec nobody checks
Standard glass cabinets typically offer 30–40cm of usable shelf depth. That sounds generous until you put ranked models on it: a flat arrangement three rows deep hides rows two and three completely. Deeper isn't automatically better — what matters is depth plus elevation. A 35cm shelf with tiered risers displays three fully visible rows where a flat 50cm shelf manages one and a half.
2. Adjustable vs fixed shelves
Miniature collections aren't uniform height — infantry need 12–15cm of clearance, hero models with banners need 20cm+, vehicles more. Fixed-shelf cabinets force every shelf to fit your tallest model and waste vertical space everywhere else. If your shortlist has an adjustable-shelf option, take it; if not, plan one “tall shelf” for big models (our large miniature guide covers headroom planning) and tier everything else.
3. Glass shelves vs wood
Glass shelves let light pass through the whole cabinet, so models on lower shelves don't sit in shadow — with one warning: glass is slippery. Stands and risers need rubberised feet or they'll slide every time the cabinet door closes. Wood shelves grip better and bear more weight, but you'll want under-shelf lighting from the second shelf down; our LED guide covers retrofitting.
4. Budget options vs furniture-grade
The hobby's open secret: mass-market glass cabinets from major furniture retailers — the tall, narrow, glass-sided kind — are the value play, typically £60–£120. Furniture-grade cabinets cost several times more and add lockable doors, integrated lighting and better joinery. Display-wise, after risers are added, the budget cabinet shows models just as well; the premium is for the furniture, not the display. We compare cabinet routes (and how to fit more per shelf) in our cabinet choices guide. WarSplay® risers are sized for standard glass cabinets and common shelf depths, supporting 25mm–100mm bases — compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and other popular 28mm–40mm systems.
5. Placement: the cabinet killer is sunlight
Direct sun through glass is a slow-motion disaster: UV fades paint and yellows varnish within a couple of years. And glass is no real UV filter — ordinary window glass still passes roughly half of all UVA light. The Canadian Conservation Institute puts numbers on the urgency: light damage is cumulative and proportional to intensity, running about 1,000 times faster in direct sunlight than at gentle museum light levels. Place the cabinet on a wall that never gets direct sun, away from radiators (heat cycling loosens glue joints) and bathrooms/kitchens (humidity). More on environmental risks in our where not to store miniatures guide.
Making it a showcase: the setup order
- Position the cabinet (sun-safe wall, near a socket if lighting).
- Set shelf heights around your collection's height bands.
- Add tiered risers per shelf — back rows highest.
- Place models: centrepieces at eye level, squads in ranks, tall models on the tall shelf.
- Add LED strips last, angled to avoid glare.
Frequently asked questions
How many miniatures fit in a standard glass cabinet?
Flat: roughly 25–40 infantry per cabinet with most half-hidden. With tiered risers on each shelf: 100–150 fully visible models in the same cabinet.
Do glass cabinets stop dust completely?
They reduce it by 90%+ but aren't hermetically sealed — expect a light dust every few months instead of weekly. Still varnish your models; our varnish guide explains the best finish for display.
Are second-hand cabinets worth it?
Often the best value in the hobby — popular glass cabinets appear constantly on local marketplaces at half retail. Check shelf pins and door hinges, and transport flat-packed if possible.
WarSplay® is an independent UK brand of Blubbercove Ltd. Trademarks are used for compatibility description only; see the disclaimer in our site footer.